Abstract

The following aimed to investigate how the British public perceive the riskof Bisphenol-A, a behavioural altering, hormone mimicking chemical usedas a components in numbers plastics. The study was carried out within thecampus of the University of Central Lancashire, using the culturally anddemographically diverse student population to sample the British public.Questionnaires were used to critically asses the participants view points onvarious social, cultural, and risk related topics in order to deduce the riskperceived by the general public. The results showed that a small percentageof the participants were aware of the chemical, with an even smalleramount wary of its medical implications. Risk perceptions are key inbuilding strong governmental policy schemes, the British governmentcannot afford another BSE crisis, thus studies like these are crucial in assesthe perceived risk of certain ‘hidden hazards’.